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At least 361 records · Page 20
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NASA NTRS1972

Observations of the diffuse galactic light.

Systematic observations during five nights were made with a field of 137 arc seconds at a fixed declination of 20 deg 42 min through one arm of the Milky Way over a range of right ascension from 257 to 336 deg. Corrections for zodiacal light, airglow, and integrated starlight leave a residual which is interpreted as the diffuse galactic light. The residual, plotted against galactic latitude, suggests that the diffuse light in the sample studied emanates from several discrete sources.

Roach, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

X-ray emission from the galactic disk.

A search was made for a diffuse component of greater than 1.5 keV X rays associated with an interarm region of the Galaxy at galactic longitudes in the vicinity of 60 degrees. A statistically significant excess associated with a narrow disk component was detected. The angular extent of this component has a most probable value of 2 degrees. The best-fit spectrum yields an intensity of 2.9 photons/sq cm per sec per sterad over the 2-10 keV range. The 3-sigma upper limit to any emission in a 1.5 keV band centered at 7 keV from galactic latitudes not greater than 3.5 deg is 0.3 photons/sq cm per sec per sterad. Several possible emission models are evaluated, with the most likely choice being a population of unresolvable low-luminosity sources.

Bleach, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The spectra of ten galactic X-ray sources in the southern sky.

Data on 10 galactic X-ray sources located between 320 and 20 deg galactic longitude were obtained during a rocket flight from Brazil in June 1969. Detailed spectra of these sources have been compared with bremsstrahlung, blackbody, and power-law models, each including interstellar absorption. Six of the sources were fitted well by one or more of these models. In only one case were the data sufficient to distinguish the best model. Three of the sources were not fitted by any of the models, which suggests that more complex emission mechanisms are applicable. A comparison of our results with those of previous investigations provides evidence that five of the sources vary in intensity by a factor of two or more, and that three have variable spectra.

Cruddace, R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Polarization of the diffuse galactic light.

Polarization measurements made from the satellite OSO-5 show that the polarized intensity in the direction of the Scutum arm of the Galaxy is different in intensity and direction of the polarization from that observed due to the zodiacal light. The observations are consistent with polarized diffuse galactic light superposed on the zodiacal light. The results are interpreted in terms of a model in which the galactic starlight is scattered by interstellar dust.

Sparrow, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Galactic-latitude dependence of low-energy diffuse X-rays.

A flux of low-energy diffuse X-rays has been observed which is qualitatively well correlated with 21-cm column densities of hydrogen from intermediate to high galactic latitude. The intensity exceeds that predicted by an extrapolation to low energies of the power-law spectrum observed above 1 keV. The observed X-ray intensity and the apparent correlation with interstellar hydrogen is accounted for by an additional component of extragalactic radiation plus a local component. For the latter, we cannot exclude the possibility that the X-rays are produced in the upper atmosphere. In addition, we have observed a large flux of X-rays near the galactic plane and a prominent feature in the constellation Gemini.

Yentis, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Gamma-ray observations of the galactic centre.

Review of observation data obtained with a portable gas-Cerenkov gamma-ray telescope flown twice from Parana, Argentina (31.8 deg S), to search for gamma radiation from the galactic center. The angular resolution of this detector is not good enough to resolve the source structure controversy, i.e. whether the gamma radiation is coming from point sources or from a diffuse source along the galactic plane. Comparisons with observation data of other investigators are presented and discussed.

Helmken, H. F.↗
NASA NTRS1973

UHURU results on galactic X-ray sources.

Consideration of the nature of the galactic X-ray sources located with the aid of the UHURU satellite. A brief description is given of the X-ray emission of the Galaxy as a whole. The general properties of sources similar to Sco X-1 (called Sco X-1-like sources) are discussed, as well as the properties of three pulsating sources showing evidence of a binary nature. Finally, some new results concerning two objects - GX263+3 (2U0900-40) and the X-ray source in the Small Magellanic Cloud (2U0115-73) - which both show evidence of a binary nature, yet have some of the properties of the Sco X-1-like objects are presented. The links noted between the Sco X-1-like objects and the pulsating binary sources lead to the suggestion that all of the galactic X-ray sources (except supernova remnants) may in fact be binaries.

Tananbaum, H. D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A study of the force-field equation for the propagation of galactic cosmic rays

A new development is given of the solution of the equation of the force-field approximation for the propagation of galactic cosmic rays in the interplanetary region. It leads to simpler methods for determining the force-field parameters. A method is given for determining the separable diffusion coefficient from observations of galactic electron spectrum and near-earth electron spectra; it is shown that this diffusion coefficient is not unique but may have a periodic-like dependence upon rigidity; and the method is used to obtain diffusion coefficients for 1965 and 1968. Approximate formulae relating small changes in intensity and diffusion coefficient are developed and some applications of these noted; in one it is shown that the form of, and changes in, diffusion coefficient deduced previously for a neutron monitor event during June-September 1969 are unnecessarily constrained and therefore probably not correct.

Gleeson, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Isotopic composition of low energy beryllium in the galactic cosmic rays

The multielement charged-particle telescope on the IMP-5 satellite obtained data essentially continuously for more than three years in the interplanetary medium under stable instrument conditions which have made it possible to separate the H, He, and Be isotopes in the galactic cosmic radiation using the technique of double dE/dx vs residual E and particle range measurements. Special emphasis is placed on demonstrating that in the energy range from 50 to 150 MeV/nucleon the instrument clearly resolved Be-7 vs Be-9. A detailed analysis of approximately 100 Be events collected over the mission lifetime yields the ratios (Be-7/Be) = 0.50 plus or minus 0.07, (Be-9/Be) = 0.41 plus or minus 0.10, and (Be-10/Be) = 0.09 plus or minus 0.10. These results are consistent with current models of galactic cosmic ray propagation after taking account of the effects of solar modulation.

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Dust in the galactic center

The strength of the 9.7 microns absorption band in the radiation from the galactic center is used to deduce a range of measures of the visual extinction from 20 to 400 magnitudes. A possible way of arriving at a unique value of the visual extinction consistent with variations in the wavelength dependence of extinction as a function of grain characteristics is indicated. The mass of silicates deduced from the 9.7 microns band appears to imply a gradient of metallicity towards the galactic center.

Greenberg, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Galactic winds driven by cosmic rays

Cosmic rays traveling through a magnetized plasma with mean velocity greater than the Alfven speed can become coupled to the plasma by the emission of magnetohydrodynamic waves. Using a time-independent, spherically symmetric, hydrodynamic treatment, we show that cosmic rays escaping from a galaxy can carry along thermal gas and produce a 'galactic wind'. Solutions indicate that a typical galaxy can lose mass at a rate of about 1 to 10 million solar masses per year and energy at a rate of about 10 to the 40th to 10 to the 42nd ergs per sec. The possible role of galactic winds in radio and X-ray sources is explored. A model is proposed to explain the X-ray emission observed from clusters of galaxies.

Ipavich, F. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Energy dependence of the Si/Fe ratio in the galactic cosmic rays

New measurements are reported of the Si/Fe ratio and the differential energy spectra of galactic cosmic-ray Si and Fe, taking into account the energy range from 35 MeV to 4 GeV per nucleon. The measured data were obtained with the aid of satellite and balloon-borne instrumentation. It is found that for the region below 1 GeV per nucleon the local interstellar spectra computed are consistent with previous galactic cosmic-ray propagation models obtained by Shapiro and Silberberg (1970) and Mason (1972).

Garcia-Munoz, M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Isolated Stroemgren spheres as a source of galactic H alpha emission

The isolated H alpha emission features reported by Reynolds et al. are identified with Stroemgren spheres surrounding observed O stars; the root mean square electron densities and Stroemgren radii are calculated from the observed emission measure and stellar type. The density has an average value of 2 per cu cm but increases to 3.3 per cu cm for stars within 200 pc of the galactic plane. An analysis of the Catalogue of Galactic O Stars shows that enhanced H alpha emission is observed around all known O stars. The diffuse component of H alpha emission is what one would expect from the line-of-sight overlapping of isolated Stroemgren spheres surrounding B stars and appears to correlate with features on extinction maps, as derived. There is no compelling reason to suggest any large-scale intercloud ionization from H alpha data alone.

Elmergreen, B. G.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Optical studies of 10 high galactic latitude X-ray sources

Optical studies are reported for a representative sample of 10 unidentified high galactic latitude X-ray sources that are north of declination minus 25 deg and that have 3U error boxes less than or of the order of 0.5 square degrees. The source 3U 1410-03 is identified with a peculiar emission-line spiral galaxy, NGC 5506, and a distance group 4 rich cluster of galaxies, Abell 2142, is suggested as a possible identification for 3U 1555+27. It is shown that very few of the unidentified high galactic latitude sources are quasi-stellar sources brighter than 17.5 mag, although one possible X-ray quasar, NAB 0137-01, is reported.

Bahcall, J. N.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Diffuse galactic gamma ray lines

The origin and observability were studied of diffuse gamma ray line emission from the galaxy. It was found that such lines could be formed by nuclear excitation interactions of low energy cosmic rays with both interstellar gas and dust grains. The gamma ray emission lines from deexcitation of grain nuclei are sharp with Doppler widths of the order of 10 kev or less; the lines from gas nuclei are also relatively sharp with widths of the order of 100 kev for the most intense line; and the lines from cosmic ray nuclei are broad with widths of the order of several hundred kev. A detailed evaluation is presented of the production rate of the 4.44 Mev line for a variety of assumed cosmic ray spectra. Results are compared with reported galactic gamma ray line intensities and it is concluded that the measurements are consistent with a low energy cosmic ray density which increases toward the galactic center in proportion to the molecular gas density.

Lingenfelter, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The structure and content of the galaxy and galactic gamma rays. A review

The International Gamma Ray Symposium entitled 'The Structure and Content of the Galaxy and Galactic Gamma Rays', held at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in June, 1976, is briefly reviewed. Highlights from presentations on galactic structure, discrete sources, and low energy gamma rays are described. New data and their interpretations are also summarized.

Crannell, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Galactic gamma radiation from cosmic rays concentrated in spiral arms

Extending the model proposed by Bignami et al. (1975), and by Fichtel et al. (1975a) for the production of the galactic high energy gamma ray distribution observed by SAS-2 to lower energies indicates the radiation is dominated by the bremsstrahlung emission of cosmic ray electrons traversing the interstellar gas. Although secondary electrons contribute only about 15% to the 10-30 MeV gamma ray emission in the solar vicinity, their contribution in the model is proportional to the third power of N, where N(r, gal. long., gal. lat.) is the total interstellar gas density, as compared to the square of N for the case of the primary components, and hence their relative importance increases in high density regions. Gamma-ray observations at these energies when compared to those at high energies (above 100 MeV) may provide a means for mapping the ratio of cosmic ray electrons to nucleons throughout the galaxy without the necessity of invoking models for the galactic magnetic field.

Kniffen, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Distribution of cosmic gamma rays in the galactic anticenter region as observed by SAS-2

The high energy (above 35 MeV) gamma ray telescope flown on the second Small Astronomy Satellite has collected over one thousand gamma rays from the direction of the galactic anticenter. In addition to the diffuse galactic emission the distribution indicates a strong pulsed contribution from the Crab nebula with the same period and phase as the NP0532 pulsar. There also seems to be an excess in the direction of (gal. long. ? 195 deg; gal. lat ? +5 deg) where there is a region containing old supernova remnants. Search for gamma ray pulsations from other pulsars in the region do not show any statistically significant signal. The general intensity distribution of the gamma rays away from the plane appear to be similar to nonthermal radio emission brightness contours.

Kniffen, D. A.↗